Ignition-plug



G. V. NUL'E AND l. E. SMITH.

IGNITION PLUG. APPLxCATloN FILED FEB. 4. |919.

Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

A TTORNE Y.

ih; ITE l* IGNITION-PLUG.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented vFel). 10, 19.20.

Application fil-ed February 4, 1919. Serial No. 274,842

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE V. rNourri and JAMES E. SMITH, citizens of the United Y States, and residents of Bellingham, in the county of Whatcom and State'of llashing ton, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ignition-Plugs, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in ignition plugs for use in so-called semi Diesel, interior combustion engines which re` quire the services of an ignition plug only at short and infrequent intervals. We have been granted a patent for a spark-plug, No. 1,219,L165 on Dec. 11, 1917 in which the ignition element is mounted in a protractile and retractile cage adapted to expose the element to and protect it from the explosive gases within the cylinder at will', and also adapted for the convenient removal ofthe sparkplug from the cylinder during engineV operation. VVe have also been granted Patent No. 1,293,520 on Feb. 4, 1919, in which the ignition element is retained in a revoluble cage, and is caused to be exposed to and shielded from said cylinder gases, as desired, by revolving said cage and element. In this invention, also, the element is conveniently removable during engine operation. In both of the later mentioned inventions the ignition plug must be moved during the nor-` mal operation of the devices.` This invention has for its main objects those recited above, but its specialobject is torattain them without moving the ignition plug,'ex cepting to remove it from the cylinder.

We attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawing in which Figure 1 is a plan view of our ignition plug in place lin the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, Fig. 2 is an elevation of Fig. 1` in section on the dotted line 2 2, yand Fig. 3 is a plane section of Fior. 1 on the dotted line 3 3.

imilar characters refer to similar parts in the several views.` Certain parts are broken away in order to Yreveal others hidden thereby.

1 is the engine cylinder, a fragmentary part only of which is shown. Stud 2 has a hexagonal head 3 and a threaded body 4 which is engaged in a threaded hole in en-V gine cylinder 1. The interior end of stud 2 projects within cylinder 1, is hollow and has the valve seat 6. In a central tapped hole in plug 2 is the threaded body 8 of valve stem 7 to the upper end of which is rigidly y fastened hand crank 10 for the convenient rotation of said valve stem. The lower end of valve stem 7 projects within cylinder 2,

and to it Vis rigidly fastened cup-form valve v 9 adapted to seat on valve seat 6 when stem 7 has been revolved to carry it to its other extreme position indicated by dotted lines. The ignition plug comprises metallic casing 11, central metallic rod 13, insulating bush ing 12, ignition element 18, and binding post nut 17. Hexagonal head 15 is on the upper end of casing 11 and close beneath it is an enlarged threaded part of the bodyle. The upper end of an eccentric hole through stud 2 is threaded to receive threadedbody` i 14and the inner end of said hole is fitted to receive the cylindrical inner end of casing 11. Said ignition plug is installed in stud 2 and removed therefrom by revolving said plug with the aid of a wrench on head 15. As shown in Fig. 2, it is preferred that ignition element 18, when in operative position, protrudes below valve seat 6 where it is fully exposed to the explosive gases within cylinder 1 when valve 9 is in its extreme lower position shown in full lines in Fig. 2. The cupv of valve 9 is suiiiciently large to inclose element 18 without touching the same when said valve is seatedas shown in dotted'lines at 9. When thus seated valve 9, together with the hollow cylindrical end of 'stud 2, seals element 18 from exposure to the gases within cylinder l. The inner and outer ends of element 18 are respectively connected to the lower endsl of rod 13 and casing 11. Therefore by connecting one wire of an electricsource of supply to the engine frame and the other wire of said electric supply to rod 13'loy clamping it under binding-post nut 17, y

element 18 is within an electric circuit and may loe rendered incandescent by electricity from said source, not shown. It is Aassumed that an electric switch 1s, as usual, included Vin the electric circuit, referred to. Then to source of electric supply is closed, and the v conduit to the fuel and air supply opened.

The electric current caused to flow through y element 18'will so heat it that it will cause the explosive mixture of volatile oils and air YYin the surrounding media to explode and parts exposed to said gases and vapors become sufficiently hot to cause the requisite 5 recurrent explosions and the services of the heated element are not needed. Then valve 9 is carried to its dotted position in Fig. 2, by using crank l0, thus seating valve 9 and separating element 18 from contact with said cylinder gases. The said electric circuit through said element is broken and said element may be allowed to remain in its protected position in cylinder l or removed therefrom by using a wrench on head l5.

Thus the normal operations are conducted without moving our ignition plug except it is desired to remove it from its operative position. If desired, we install two or more ignition plugs in stud 2 and connect them in parallel relation electrically. Also it is readily apparent that the heating element 18k may be replaced by the ordinary ljuinpspark terminals if desired.`

Having thus fully disclosed our invenr tion, what we claim as new anddesire to secureby Letters Patent is,

1. In combination, the cylinder of an iiil ternal combustion engine, a stud engaged in der engaged in a central threaded hole inV said stud, a valve on the inner end of said stein closable on said valvesea't, and a removable ignition plug in an eccentrically placed hole in said stud with its element in the cylindrical cavity on the inner end of said stud. v

2. In combination, the cylinder of an .interiial-coinbustion engine, a screw stud engaged in the walls of said engine cylinder v having a hollow cylindrical inner endv with a valve seat protruding within said engine cylinder, an `ignition. plug having a threaded body engaged ina threaded eccentric hole in said stud with its ignition element pro.-

truding within said engine cylinder, a valve stem operable in a central hole in said stud having a cupform valve on it'svinterior end adapted to seat on said valve seat andseparate said element from communication with y the contents of said engine cylinder.

GEORGE v. NoLTE. JAMES E. SMITH. 

